Patterning Functional Proteins in Ultrabithorax-Based Materials.

The ability to add bioactivities, such as cell signaling or ligand recognition, to biomaterials has generated the potential to include multiple bioactivities into a single material. In some cases, it is desirable to localize these activities to different areas of the biomaterial, creating functional patterns. While photolithography and 3D printing have been effective techniques for patterning functions in many materials, patterning remains a challenge in materials composed of protein, in part due to how these materials are artificially assembled.

Depression-like behavior is associated with deficits in cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis in a subset of spinally contused male, but not female, rats.

Depression and cognitive deficits present at higher rates among people with spinal cord injury (SCI) compared to the general population, yet these SCI comorbidities are poorly addressed. Sex and age appear to play roles in depression incidence, but consensus on the direction of their effects is limited. Systemic and cortical inflammation and disruptions in hippocampal neurogenesis have been identified as potential treatment targets, but a comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms remains elusive.

Engineering of a chitin deacetylase to generate tailor-made chitosan polymers.

Chitin deacetylases (CDAs) emerge as a valuable tool to produce chitosans with a nonrandom distribution of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and glucosamine (GlcN) units. We hypothesized before that CDAs tend to bind certain sequences within the substrate matching their subsite preferences for either GlcNAc or GlcN units. Thus, they deacetylate or N-acetylate their substrates at nonrandom positions.

Strain-specific humoral response to a polymorphic malaria vaccine.

The 3D7 form of the merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) of Plasmodium falciparum was one of three subunits of the malaria vaccine Combination B that were tested in a phase I/IIb double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial, which was undertaken with 120 Papua New Guinean children of 5 to 9 years of age. Because only one variant of the highly polymorphic MSP2 was used for vaccination, we examined whether the elicited response was directed against conserved or strain-specific epitopes. Postvaccination (week 12) titers of antibody against recombinantly expressed individual domains of MSP2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared to baseline values.

Assessment of positivity in immuno-assays with variability in background measurements: a new approach applied to the antibody response to Plasmodium falciparum MSP2.

Measurements of immune responses often exhibit considerable heterogeneity, making it impossible to clearly distinguish responders and nonresponders to particular antigens. Typically, in, for example, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures, a nonexposed control group is used to assign a cutoff value of positivity, calculated as the mean plus either 2 or 3 standard deviations (S.D.

Age dependence of the multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infections and of other malariological indices in an area of high endemicity.

The relationship between age and various malariological indices in the Kilombero valley of Tanzania were examined by compiling data from 6 different community studies carried out between 1989 and 1996. The rate of acquisition of Plasmodium falciparum infection was highest in children 1-5 years of age, while recovery rates were lowest between the first birthday and early adolescence. As a result, peak prevalence was reached in 3-5 years old children.

Genotypes of merozoite surface protein 2 of Plasmodium falciparum in Tanzania.

The merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) of Plasmodium falciparum is extremely polymorphic: 82 different msp2 alleles were found in 4 studies of molecular epidemiology conducted in Tanzania. This diversity renders msp2 suitable as a marker gene for the genotyping of P. falciparum infections.

Distinction of recrudescences from new infections by PCR-RFLP analysis in a comparative trial of CGP 56 697 and chloroquine in Tanzanian children.

Objective: To test the efficacy of a new compound drug (CGP 56697) against acute, uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

Method: Reappearing parasites were analysed by PCR-RFLP within a randomized controlled trial. 130 patients received chloroquine and 130 patients were treated with CGP 56697.

Chicken guanylate-binding protein. Conservation of GTPase activity and induction by cytokines.

To gain further insights into the cytokine network of birds, we used polymerase chain reaction technology to clone a cDNA that codes for a chicken homolog of the interferon-induced guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs). In its N-terminal moiety, the 64-kDa chicken GBP contains two sequence blocks of 100 and 19 amino acids, respectively, that are about 70% identical to mammalian GBPs. The first region includes two motifs of the canonical GTP-binding consensus element.

Hemodynamic and angiographic late results following enlargement of narrow aortic root using autologous pericardium in prosthetic aortic valve replacement.

From 1976 to 1984, 31 patients underwent enlargement of very small aortic roots using autologous pericardial strips the subannular part of which extended into the incised anterior mitral valve leaflet. The majority of these interventions (n = 24) were carried out before the end of 1980. Over an average follow-up period of 52.

Transfer of training as a function of target speed in pursuit-rotor performance.

Transfer of training along the difficulty dimension was studied in the rotary pursuit situation using a modified proactive-retroactive inhibition experimental design. Difficulty was varied by changing speed of rotation. Two speeds were used: 55 RPM and 60 RPM.